Piano action



F. H. ABENDSCHEIN.

PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6. 192x.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHED I.

M". y- W A TTOR/VE Y6.

F. H. ABENDSCHEIN.

PIANO ACTION.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ.

F. H. ABENDSCHEIN.

PIANO ACTION. KPPLICATION FILED SEPT-16, 1921 1 435,442 Patented Nov.14, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEE1 3.

W F, MN MW N W L fb Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK H. ABENDSCHEIN, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

PIANO ACTION.

Application filed September 16, 1921. Serial No. 501,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. ABENDsoHEIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Yonkers, in the county of WVestchesterand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Piano Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The invention which forms the subject of this application for LettersPatent pertains to piano actions, having reference more particularly tothose actions which are designed for use in a grand piano, and asadapted for this use the improvement will be hereinafter illustrated anddescribed. The improvements reside in certain novel attachments andappliances in the action which very greatly contribute to its value, itsefficiency and to-the finer playing qualities which highclass musiciansseek and, in fact, require for perfect execution.

Primarily the improvements involve novel. means for producing a softtone by the operation of the soft pedal; and the radically novel natureof this feature which I have devised may be most readily comprehendedfrom the following considerations:

Heretofore in all grand pianos, actions not employing a lost motiondevice, were set on a shifting key-board. which, by means of a pedal andsuitable intermediate mechanism was shifted laterally toward the trebleto obtain a softer tone, so that the hammers, when a soft pedal tone ormovement is required, do not strike the strings as they do when inposition for striking a louder tone. It will be understood from this,that inasmuch as more force is required to propel the hammers againstthe strings to produce the loud tones and that as more loud than softones are struck, the hammers acquire from wear deep grooves from theimpact of the greater force of blow, so that when shifting the key-boardfor a softer tone it can readily be seen that it is quite impossible forthe hammers to strike the strings so that the same grooves in hammersacquired fromthe impact of the harder blow for loud tone do not comeinto play, other grooves being thereby formed as a result of the shiftedblow, giving the striking face of the hammers a cut up or corrugatedappearance and by reason of a certain amount of lateral vibration fromimpact of the hammer blow in both positions of the struck strings andhammers it can further readily be seen how impossible it is for eitherset of grooves now formed in hammer to correctly register with thestrings. This condition is considerably aggravated when the hammers arecaused to strike the strings in rapid succession as is frequently thecase according to the nature of the music. In order to produce theproper volume of tone it is the practice to place the strings in aseries of one, two or three strings to the note according to the sectionof the scale in which either of these series lie, the hammers thereforewhich are in position for normal or louder tone, strike one, two orthree strings as the case might be, but by operation of the soft pedalthe keyboard to which the action is attached is shifted sothat thehammers strike in the case of two strings only one, or of three stringsonly two. This has the effect of lessening the amount of vibration andtherefore yields the so-called softer tone. While this plan has been invery general use, it nevertheless pre sents many objectionable features.

The key-board, for example, requiring to be shifted, was, necessarily,practically loose, being held in position merely by springs applied toeither side of the key-frame and guides. These springs are liable toweaken and the guides due to the very nature of their construction arefrail at best. Other conditions arise which make the plan objectionable,the chief trouble arising from the inability of the aforesaid groovesformed in striking face of the hammers caused by wear, toproperlyregister with the strings from either the normal or shifted.position of keyboard, and when the blow is given there is caused ablurred tone, thebreaking away of the keyboard from its correctposition, rattling, and its tendency, being free, to warp and therebythrow out of perfect regulation the action, with resultant trouble andannoyance to the musician.

By my improvement .a grand action with what is technically known as alost motion attachment, which is another means for accomplishing thesame result, avoids all of these objections, and in such case thekeyframe may be fastened securely, and warping and tendency to get outof perfect regulation entirely done away with. This lost motionattachment differs from the shifting keyboard plan in the followingparticulars:

The soft pedal operates a hammer rail by means of which the hammers areto a certain extent raised. This is accomplished by means of a liftinglever and a hammer rail placed beneath the shanks ot the hammers,.

by which the latter are moved to a position of any lesser distance fromthe strings, usually in the soft pedal position one-half the fulldistance, thereby leaving a lesser distance through which the hammerstravel tor the blow, and hence a less powertulxstroke against thestrings.

In lifting the hammer rail mechanism, by means of the soft pedal, thehammer shank is raised from the support or wippen, which ordinarilytransmits the movement to the pensated for in any way,-

shank and hammer. By this raising a space between the hammer shankknuckle and the WIPPGII is established which is technically practicable,since a skilled performer pre fers to have the same key depth at thefront o'fthe key regardless of what conditions are established in thepiano action itself. Secend, if the keys are not so'leaded as to dip infront so as toclose up the spacecreatcd between the shank and thewippen. there will 1 be a lost motion feeling detected by the playerwhen the keys are depressed the full -.d1stance, as this: movement inspace is talse to'a delicate finger and might create a force that wouldnot control the lesser movement of the hammer as desired.

To compensate for and overcome the lost motion space between the shankknuckle and the wippen, without any dipping of the key to close it up, Ihave pivoted to the underside of the wippen a lever so disposed that itsI forward end contacting with the wippen rests upon the capstan screwattached to the key which constitutes the point oi. power application ofthe latter in lifti. the piano action mechanism, while its rear endrests upon a litter, or What in my device constitutes a lost motion rodthat is attached by arms which pivot in recesses in the action bracketsand is in turn suspended by suit able means tci the pivoted arm of thehammer rail which. when the'soft pedal is applied, raises the hammer toan intermediate posi tion.

The rear end of the aforesaid pivoted lever is provided withanadjusting'screw carrying a padded button that contacts with theli-tterOF'lOSi'fIHOl'JlOD'IOd, and the hammer bracl rail is connectedadjustably with this rod in such manner that when raised it raises alsothe rod, with the result that the'rear end of the pivoted lever, as wellas the wippen, are raised, and as the forward end of said lever restsalways on the capstan screw any movement of the key imparts,immediately, movement to the wippen and hammer, without regard totheposition of the latter, for while normally the capstan screw appliespower directly through the forward end of the lever to the wippen, inthe soft pedal position the rear end of said lever bearing on the latteror lost motion rod is raised by the movement imparted to itby thekeyuand turning upon the said rod as a fulcrum raises the w-ippenthrough its pivotal point of connection therewith.

In this device, broadly resides the main improvementwhich my inventioninvolves. The invention, however, resides in certain other features suchas an adjustable device for regulating the height of the lost motion rodand the position of the adjusting device for facilitating the use of anadjusting tool, recessed brackets for the saving of space which initself is highly desirable and a distinct mechanical advantage and anovel form of: spiral spring for holding the lever firmly against thewippen. The nature of these improvements can best be gathered from thedetailed description which follows, in which will also be set forth theimprovements of minor importance which characterize my improved pianoaction. I pass, therefore, to such description-and to a consideration ofthe drawings hereto" annexed in which my improvements are shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the essential parts of a grandpiano action with my improvements applied thereto, the parts being shownin their normal position of rest.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same parts with the soft pedal depressedto raise the hammers to an intermediate position.

3 is a similar view of the same parts wvith a key depressed to throw thehammer.

hi is a detail view of the lever hereinbeforerlescribed as pivoted tothe wippen. Fi 5 is a detail view of a recessed action ona reduced scaleand Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5.

in my description I shall assume that all parts of the piano action notembodying my improvements are well known :by those skilled in the art towhich this specification is addressed, and require but passing;

consideration and very little description. It may be assumed, therefore,that 1 represents a key, 2 the capstan screw carried thereby, and 3 thewippen pivoted at l, and operating when raised by the key to throw thehammer 5, pivoted in the line 6; The various parts carried by oroperating connection" with this wippen, not hereinafter specificallydeat all times in'its normal position of. contact with the wippen, asshown in Fig. 1.

The rear end of the lever 8 carries an adjusting screw 11 having apadded button 12 at its lower end, which by the adjustment of the partsnormally rests very close to or in light contact with a lifter or lostmotion rod 13. This rod 13 is supported by arms 14, pivoted at 15 inrecesses 32 in action 'brackets 33 shown in the figures and is thereforecapable of an oscillatory movement about 15 as a center. To said rod issecured a bracket 16 to which is pivotally connected a connection block17. through which extends and is freely movable therein, a headedthreaded rod 18. The said rod 18 carries a threaded nut'19, pivotallyconnected to a clamp nut 20 carried by one of the supporting arms orhooks 21, for the hammerrail 22, pivoted in the line 6. A lock nut 23 isprovided for fixing the position of the screw nut 19.

The parts thus constructed are adjusted by means of the clamp nut 20 andthe screw nut 19, so that the hammer rail 22 and the rod 13 move inperfect unison. That is to say, when the hammer rail is raised by thesoft pedal in the usual manner, the screw rod 18 is drawn upward andforward and thus raises the rod 13 inexact unison with the movement ofthe hammer rail.

Normally, or when the soft pedal is not in I use, any movement of a key1 is imparted directly by the capstan screw 2 through the padded end ofthe lever 8 to the wippen 3, and the hammer is immediately thrown. Bythe action of the spiral spring 10 the lever 8 is held against thewippen'at all times and the lever has no motion of its own.

It is therefore, in effect, an'integral part of of connection of sai thewippen and its presence is not detectable by the player. I

Assume, however, that the soft pedal be depressed. This operates toraise the hammer to its intermediate position. It also raises the rod 13and hence the button 12, and the rear end of the pivoted lever 8. Theforward end of the lever is notthereby raised from the capstan screw 2,so that the rear end of thelever resting on the raised rod 13 becomesthe ower. the pivotal point 8 lever with the wippen the weight, which isslightly raised, and the forward end resting upon the capstan screwstill further raised.

tion and then depressing a key, has a double function in throwing thepower, weight and fulcrum back and forth, creating an even andcontinuous movement without any l st motion, in the action or in thefeeling to the musician at the instrument.

This lever, in other words, takes up the foreshortening of the pianoaction when placed in the soft pedal or half blow position, in such away that the most skilled performer does not realize nor feel that theaction has been foreshortened by any contrivance. In fact a mostimportant and novel feature of the device in this regard is that lesspower is needed to depress a key when the lost motion movement is in operation, thereby making the touch lighter, a

.most desirable feature when a reduced force above described is that itis located entirely back of the capstan screw, and so arranged that itoccupies no more space than that of an ordinary grand piano action. Italso results from this that the necessity of removing the lost motionrod 13 when an operator is called upon to regulate the capstan screwwhich regulates the action itself. is eliminated for the latterisreadily accessible from the front and may be turned by any ordinarytool.

This feature of ready adjustment applies also to the combined liftingmechanism, such adjustment being effected by simply turning the squaredexposed end of the screw rod 18- and loosening and tightening the locknut 23, without disarranging any parts of the actionv or partsassociated therewith. By these means the rod 13 mav be readily adjustedup or down as needed. and then locked in its adjusted position. suchregulation being for the purpose of controlling the postion of the rodin general against the regulatable button of the lever 8, and then forindividual regulation of the lever itself by means of the squared top ofthe screw 11, which is readily accessible through openings in the framebars of the wippen or support.

Another and important feature which, however, I do not claim herein, ofmy improved action is in the spring; which sets to depress the sostenutolever 24-. inerily this springi beers directly :lrom s point ofattachment above the pivotal point oi? this lever upon the top of thesame, but this results in a. relative movement bet-Wee the lever and theend of the sorinp' Which inv time almost inevitably resul s insquealing.

To avoid this I mount the spring 25 at a point 26, belovwsn dba-clr ofthe pivotelpoint end then bend it over so the; its end rests in a slight(LlQPI'GSSlOR in the top of the lever By this construction there isnosliding movement of the end of them on the lever. and. triction andresulting; sounds are completely eliminated.

Still another device is also cm nloyed.

There is alivzys a catch block 27. p *oted to secured in the block 27,While the other free end is simply bent back end lies in n cut or slotin the stationary this means the block is always held by a light springpressure in its prope and nor- I mel position.

Consi lering; now, inits broader aspects, the construction and functionsof my improved piano action, and more part cularly the soft pedal orlost motion mechani, n. it is manifest that when the soft oedel isdepressed the hammers ere but conta between the hammers and the \vitipens supports is maintained by a correspond" elevation of the latte il ithout the sp provision which i nslie, this would. eitier leave aspace between the capstan screw and the Wippen, or the tore, is to use arigidly extensible connection between the key or its cspst screw and theivippen when the hannneris set? to its in tern'ie'diste soft pedal poion. Through and by means of this connectnn all. lost motion is takenup, and WJllllG the key has its full movement, the h nmer bet half ofits normal movement and the depression of the key results in theimmediate oi the hammer. F o or as l are aware t aradicslly new Featureinpiiino actions in the form in which I have designated and illustratedit.

..gain it will be observei l that Weight of the rod 13 and its connectiothe hammer rail arms is su 'iported bi two fi ed hearings or supportsathe pivots point of the hammer rail arm 21. end the hammer rail rest31. The entire Weight o t part 30. By

front of the key would dip to close it. What I virtusllydo, there thecnti re i the hammer shank and support or W-ippen, furthermore, is borneby the lever 8 between tWo fixed bearing; sunports,-the capstan screwat. d the rod 13. Both of these features are of great advantage as theytend. to keep the action in better regulation and contribute to thebetter balance of the entire movement.

The several parts of my improved mechanism may be very greatly varied,so far as its ultimate purposeand function are con ceriied. ts specificmode of attachment may also be greatly modified, and the specificconstruction oi"- the other parts of the piano action are not manifestlyof the essence of my invention. i i

vl-ifaving now described my invention, what i claim is:

1. In a piano action, the combination. with the he; ers of s pedaloperated hammer rail f ising the hammers for softer tones,

wippens for operating the hammers, swing ing levers pivoted attheirfmiddle points to raid iv. pens, the ends of the forwardly 8X-tendin rms or which. lie in contact with the Wi.]')] )11$, and a litterrod connected to the hammer rail and lying; under the ends of thereerivardly est-ending, arms of said levers, the forwaid ends 0t saidlevers resting in operative contact with the keys.

2. in a nisno action, the combination with the lien of a. pedaloperated, hammer reil tor raising the same for softer tones, ivippensfor operating the hammers, swinglevers pivoted to said ivippens-pspiral.piings betiveenthe Wippens end the rear portions of said l6Y8 'S,.Wl1616by thetorvvard ends of: said lovers are held normally againstthe ivippensi and a litter rod connected With and adapted to be rsisedbythe hammer rail and lying under the rear, ends of the pivoted levers.the forward ends of said levers resting; in operative contact with thekeys.

3. in; a piano action, the combination with the hamm rs of a. pedaloperated hammer reil for raising the some, Wippens for operating thehammers, levers pivoted at their middle points beneath and to thewippens, and capable of movement about such pivotal. points ofconnection with said ivippens, lifter rod. and adjustable con nectionbetween the some and the supports 1 the hammer 11's.. said lifter rodlying i ler the ends of the rearw'ardly extend ing; arms of the pivotedlevers whereby said ends are raised when the hammers are lifted to an i.mediate position, the forwardly extending arms of the said pivotedlevers resting in operative contact with the keys.

4;. in a piano action, the combination with the hammers, of a pedaloperated hammer rail for raising the same, Wippens for operatingthe-hammers, swinging levers pivoted at their middle points to the underside of said Wippens, the endsof their for- .Wsrdly extending armsbeingnormally in contact with the wippens, an oscillatory lifter rod lyingunder the ends of the rearwardly extending arms of said levers, a rodpivotally connected with said lifter rod, and adjustable connectionsbetween said pivoted rod and the hammer rail supports whereby the lifterrod may be moved in unison with. the hammer rail, the forwardlyextending arms of said pivoted ley ers resting in operative contact withthe keys.

In a piano action, the combination with the hammers of a pedal operatedhammer rail for raising the same, wippens for operating the hammers,swinging levers pivoted at their middle points to the under side of thewippens, the ends of their forwardly extending arms being normally incontact with the wippens and the ends of their rearwardly extending armsbeing provided with adjustable buttons, an oscillating lifter rod lyingunder the adjustable buttons, and adjustable connections between saidlifter rod and the hammer rail supports by means of which the two movein unison, the forwardly extending arms of said pivoted levers restingin operative contact with the keys.

6. In a piano action, the combination with the hammers, of a pedaloperated hammer rail for lifting the same, wippens for operating thehammers, a lifter rod movable in uni-- son with said hammer rail andlevers inter mediate the wippens and keys of the piano, said. leversbeing pivoted at their middle points to the wippens, the forwardlyextending ends of which are in contact with the keys and the rearwardlyextending ends resting on the lifter rod, the said levers and lifter rodbeing located back of the oint of engagement of the keys and pivotedevers.

7. A piano action comprising, in combination, hammers, a pedal operatedhammer rail, wippens, levers pivoted at their middle pointsbeneath andto said wippens, a lifter rod, connections for moving the same in unisonwith the hammer rail and lying under the ends of the rearwardlyextending arms of the pivoted levers, the forwardly extending arms ofwhich rest in contact with capstan screws on the piano keys, and meansfor adjusting the connections between the lifter rod and hammer rail,said means be ing accessible from the front of the instrument forpurposes of ready adjustment.

8. In a piano action, the combination with the hammers of a hammer railand hammer rail supports, arms pivoted to a fixed support for supportingthe hammer rail, wippens for operating the hammers, swinging leverspivoted to the wippens, a lifter rod under the rear ends of said levers,connections between the same and the hammer rail arms at a pointintermediate the hammer rail rests and the fixed pivotal points of saidarms, the forward ends of the pivoted levers resting in operativecontact with the piano keys.

9. In a piano action the combination with the hammers, a hammer rail andpivoted arms supporting the rail, of wippens for raising the hammers, alifter rod connected to the pivoted arms and adapted to be raised inunison with the hammer rail, and levers pivoted to the underside of thewippens at points intermediate the rod and the points of contact of thekeys and wippens, the rear ends of said levers lying over the lifter rodand the forward ends over the contact points of the keys.

10. In a piano action, the combination with the hammers of a pedaloperated hammer rail for raising the same for softer tones, wippens foroperating the hammers, swinging levers pivoted to said wippens, theforward ends of which lie in contact with the wippen action brackets, alifter rod, arms supporting said rod pivoted in recesses in the sides ofthe action brackets, said lifter rod being connected to the hammer railand lying under the rear ends of the said swinging levers, the forwardends of said levers resting in contact with the piano keys.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

FREDERICK H. ABENDSCHEIN.

